Reflective area blocking feature for displays

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a display device, a method, a computer program and a system including a display device, wherein said display device includes at least one light transmissive area configured to be coupled to a light source in order to be provided with backlight, at least one light reflective area, at least one light transmission control element associated with said at least one light reflective area, wherein said display device is configured to be switched into a reflective blocking state when said at least one light transmissive area is provided with backlight, and wherein in said reflective blocking state said at least one light transmission control element causes light-blocking.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device, a method, a computer program and asystem comprising a device, wherein said device comprises at least onelight transmissive area and at least one light reflective area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are used in a variety of electronicdevices like mobile phones, handhelds, pocket computers or the like inorder to display images to a user.

Such LCD displays are often configured to be used in two differentmodes: In a first mode, the LCD is illuminated by means of a backlight,and in a second mode, said backlight is switched off and only ambientlight is used to illuminate the LCD. For instance, said second mode isused in a standby mode of a mobile phone in order to reduce powerconsumption, and when a user activates the mobile phone, then thebacklight is switched on and the LCD is driven in the first state inorder to display brilliant color images.

Such a two-mode LCD may comprise a separate light reflective region area120 and a separate light transmissive area 110 per each pixel, asdepicted in FIG. 1 a. A backlight 150 is deposited on the back side ofthe light transmissive area 110 so that light emitted from the backlight150 can pass through the transmissive region 110, the liquid crystallayer 130 and the transparent upper electrode 140. The reflective region120 may comprise a reflective layer 121 so that ambient light enteringfrom the observer side of the display may go through the LCD (i.e. thetransparent upper electrode 140 and the liquid crystal layer 130) inorder to be reflected at a reflective layer 121 of the light reflectivearea 120 and then the reflected light goes through the LCD again, asdepicted on the right hand side of FIG. 1 a. As the material of thetransparent upper electrode 140, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) canbe used.

Both the light transmissive area 110 and the light reflective area 120may comprise a controllable electrode 112,122 in order to control thelight transmittance of the adjacent part of the liquid crystal layer130. These controllable electrodes 112,122 may be controlled by a thinfilm transistor 123.

FIG. 1 b depicts a cross-sectional view of three adjacent pixels of anLCD, wherein said cross-sectional view shows a cut beneath the liquidcrystal layer 130 depicted in FIG. 1 a, and wherein the first lighttransmissive area 110 and the first light reflective area 120 areassociated with a first pixel, the second light transmissive area 110′and the second light reflective area 120′ are associated with a secondpixel, and third light transmissive area 110″ and the third lightreflective area 120″ are associated with a third pixel, and wherein thelight transmissive areas 110,110′,110″. Each of the thin filmtransistors 123,123′,123″ is configured to control the respectiveelectrodes 112,122 112′, 122′ 112″,122″ of the associated lighttransmissive/reflective areas.

For instance, the first light transmissive area 110 may be associatedwith a green pixel by means of a green color filter (not depicted inFIG. 1 b), the second light transmissive area 110′ may be associatedwith a blue pixel by means of a blue color filter (not depicted in FIG.1 b), and the third light transmissive area 110″ may be associated witha red pixel by means of a red color filter (not depicted in FIG. 1 b).Furthermore, the light reflective areas 120,120′,120″ may representblack and white (B&W) reflective regions 120,120′,120″, i.e. no colorfilters are associated with these B&W reflective regions 120,120′,120″,and the B&W reflective areas 120,120′,120″ reflectivity is controlled bymeans of the electrodes 122,122′,122″ so that the reflectivitycorrelates with an image content.

These B&W reflective areas 120,120′,120″ depicted in FIG. 1 b are verygood for standby mode visibility in case the display is driven in thesecond mode, i.e. when the backlight 150 is switched off.

Unfortunately, in case the display is driven in the first mode, i.e. itis illuminated with light emitted from the backlight 150 in order topass the light transmissive regions 110,110′,110″ associated with thedifferent colors, then said B&W reflective areas 120,120′,120″ may causea decreased image quality under bright environmental illumination,because the black and white light reflected from said B&W reflectiveareas 120,120′,120″ washes out the colors generated by the backlight andthe light transmissive areas 110,110′,110″.

SUMMARY

A device is disclosed, comprising at least one light transmissive areaconfigured to be coupled to a light source in order to be provided withbacklight; at least one light reflective area, at least one lighttransmission control element associated with said at least one lightreflective area, wherein said device is configured to be switched into areflective blocking state when said at least one light transmissive areais provided with backlight, and wherein in said reflective blockingstate said at least one light transmission control element is configuredto cause light-blocking.

Furthermore, a method is disclosed, comprising determining whether areflective blocking state of a device is to be entered, wherein saiddevice comprises at least one light transmissive area configured to becoupled to a light source in order to be provided with backlight; atleast one light reflective area, at least one light transmission controlelement associated with said at least one light reflective area, andwherein in said reflective blocking state said at least one lighttransmission control element causes light-blocking, and in case it isdetermined that said reflective blocking state is to be entered,switching said reflective blocking state switched active.

Furthermore, a computer-readable medium having a computer program storedthereon is disclosed. The computer program comprises instructionsoperable to cause a processor to determine whether a reflective blockingstate of a device is to be entered, wherein said device comprises atleast one light transmissive area configured to be coupled to a lightsource in order to be provided with backlight; at least one lightreflective area, at least one light transmission control elementassociated with said at least one light reflective area, wherein in saidreflective blocking state said at least one light transmission controlelement causes light-blocking, and in case it is determined that saidreflective blocking state is to be entered, to switch said reflectiveblocking state active.

Furthermore, a computer program is disclosed. The computer programcomprises instructions operable to cause a processor to determinewhether a reflective blocking state of a device is to be entered,wherein said device comprises at least one light transmissive areaconfigured to be coupled to a light source in order to be provided withbacklight; at least one light reflective area, at least one lighttransmission control element associated with said at least one lightreflective area, wherein in said reflective blocking state said at leastone light transmission control element causes light-blocking, and incase it is determined that said reflective blocking state is to beentered, to switch said reflective blocking state active.

Furthermore, a system is disclosed. This system comprises at least oneof said device, at least one light source, wherein said at least onelight source is configured to provide backlight to at least one lighttransmissive area of said at least one device, and wherein said at leastone light source is configured to be switched on or off; and a controlunit connected with said at least one device, wherein said control unitis configured to determine whether a reflective blocking state of saidat least one device is to be entered, and, in case it is determined thatsaid reflective blocking state is to be entered, to switch saidreflective blocking state active.

For instance, each of said at least one light transmissive area may beassociated with a pixel element of a display, and each of said at leastone light reflective area may be associated with a pixel element of adisplay. Further, for instance, the device may for instance be part of adisplay, for instance a liquid crystal display or any other suiteddisplay.

Said at least one light transmissive area is configured to let passlight through. For instance, a backlight from a switchable light sourcemay be coupled into this at least one light transmissive area in orderto illuminate this at least one light transmissive area when backlightis switched on.

The at least one light reflective area is configured to reflect light,e.g. ambient light from the environment. For instance, this at least onelight reflective area may comprise a light reflective layer.

Furthermore, each of said at least one light reflective area may beassociated with a black and white pixel, and each of said at least onelight transmissive area may be associated with a color pixel, e.g. agreen pixel, a red pixel or a blue pixel. For instance, respective colorfilters may deposited above or under said at least one lighttransmissive area, or a backlight with respective color may be used toprovide colored pixels associated with said at least one lightreflective area.

In case the device comprises a plurality of light transmissive areas,then adjacent light transmissive areas of this plurality of lighttransmissive areas may share a common light transmissive layer.Furthermore, in case the device comprises a plurality of lightreflective areas, then adjacent light reflective areas of this pluralityof light reflective areas may share a common light reflective layer.

The at least one light transmission control element associated with saidat least one light reflective area may be deposited above said at leastone light reflective area, or it may be integrated into said at leastone light reflective area. The at least one light transmission controlelement is configured to control light transmission to the at least onelight reflective area, and it can be switched into a state causinglight-blocking.

For instance, said at least one light transmission control element mayrepresent any kind of a light valve configured to block or let passlight, or said at least one light transmission control element mayrepresent a kind of actuator configured to control at least one furtherlight valve element of said device, wherein this at least one furtherlight valve element is disposed above said at least one light reflectivearea.

For instance, in case said device is configured to be used as part of aliquid crystal display, then said at least one light transmissioncontrol element may be at least one light transmissive electrodeconfigured to control a liquid crystal element, and each of said atleast one light transmission control element may be associated with anelectrical switching element in order to electrical switch theassociated electrode. For instance, this electrical switching elementmay be a thin film transistor disposed close to the associatedelectrode. Furthermore, it will be clear for a person skilled in the artthat the device may comprise at least one further light transmissioncontrol element in case said device is configured to be used as a partof a liquid crystal display. In this optional LCD-case, the at least onelight transmission control element is placed on a first site of theliquid crystal element, e.g. below or above the liquid crystal element,and the at least on further light transmission control element is placedon the opposite site of the liquid crystal element. For instance, saidlight transmission control elements may represent ITO electrodes.

The device is configured to be switched into a reflective blocking statewhen said at least one light transmissive area is provided withbacklight, e.g. from a switchable light source. In this reflectiveblocking state the at least one light transmission control element isswitched into said state for causing light-blocking.

In this reflective blocking state it can be avoided that light reflectedfrom said at least one reflective area interferes with light generatedby the backlight and transmitted through the at least one lighttransmissive area, since said at least one light reflective area doesnot receive light due to the blocking state of said at least one lighttransmission control element.

For instance, in case said at least one light transmissive area isassociated with at least one color pixel and said at least one lightreflective area is associated with at least one black and white (B&W)pixel, then this reflective blocking state is capable to avoid thatcolors generated by light transmitted through the at least one lighttransmissive area is washed out by reflected light from said at leastone light reflective area. Accordingly, the color image quality can beincreased, in particular in case of intensive light in the environment.

Furthermore, for instance, each of said at least one light transmissioncontrol element may be associated with exactly one out of said at leastone light reflective area. Then, when the device is not in thereflective blocking state, said at least one light transmission controlelement may be further used to control the brightness of the associatedat least one B&W pixel, respectively, e.g. according to a control signalin order to correlate said at least one B&W pixel with imageinformation.

Furthermore, the device may comprise at least one further lighttransmission control element associated with said at least one lighttransmissive area in order to control the brightness of the associatedat least one color pixel, e.g. according to a control signal in order tocorrelate said at least one color pixel with image information.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, said atleast one light reflective area are at least two light reflective areas,and at least two of said at least two light reflective areas areassociated with one common light transmission control element of said atleast one light transmission control element.

For instance, said device comprises a plurality of light reflectiveareas, e.g. associated with a plurality of B&W pixels of a display. Thenthis common light transmission control element can be used to switch thedevice into the reflective blocking state.

E.g., said plurality of light reflective areas maybe arranged in form ofat least one column of a display and one common light transmissioncontrol element is deposited above each of said at least one column oflight reflective areas. Then, each column of light reflective areas iscontrollable to block light by means of the associated common lighttransmissive control element. Accordingly, an efficient arrangement of adisplay configured to be switched in to said reflective blocking statecan be achieved.

For example, the common light transmission control element may beconnected to a single signal line, and via this signal line the commonlight transmission control element can be controlled to switch thedevice into the reflective blocking state by means of a single controlsignal.

Furthermore, the at least two light reflective areas associated withsaid at least one common light transmission control element may beassociated with at least two further light transmission control elementsconfigured to control the brightness at least two pixels associated withsaid at least two light reflective areas. These at least two furtherlight transmission control elements may be used to control theassociated pixels according to a control signal in order to correlatesaid at least one B&W pixel with image information when the device isnot in the reflective blocking state.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each ofat least one of said at least two of said at least two light reflectiveareas is deposited adjacent to one of said at least one lighttransmissive area, wherein said adjacent light reflective area and lighttransmissive area are associated with one common pixel having a commonpixel light transmission control element.

This common pixel control element and the associated light reflectivearea and light transmissive area may be associated with one pixelconfigured to be used in a display. For instance, the light transmissivearea may be associated with a color section of this pixel, e.g. with ared, a green or a blue section, as mentioned above, and the lightreflective are may be associated with a B&W section of this pixel, asmentioned above. For instance, this pixel associated with said lightreflective and light transmissive area may represent a sub-pixel of acolor display.

The common light transmission pixel control element allows controllingthe light transmission of reflected light from the associated lightreflective area and from transmitted light form the associated lighttransmissive area. The explanations and advantages mentioned above withrespect to the at least one light transmission control element also holdfor a realization of this common pixel light transmission controlelement. Thus, for instance, this common pixel light transmissioncontrol element may represent a light valve or an actuator configured tocontrol at least one further light valve element of said device.

For example, a plurality of these common pixel control elements and theassociated light reflective areas and light transmissive areas defininga plurality of sub-pixels may be arranged in a manner for forming apixel matrix or any pixel arrangement of a display.

For instance, a first light transmissive area and a first lightreflective area may have one common pixel light transmission controlelement, wherein the first light transmissive area maybe associated witha red colored section of a first sub-pixel and the first lightreflective area may be associated with a B&W section of this firstsub-pixel. In a similar way, a second light transmissive area and asecond light reflective area may be associated with a sub-pixelcomprising a green-colored and a B&W section and, and a third lighttransmissive area and a third light reflective area may be associatedwith a sub-pixel comprising a blue-colored and a B&W section. Thesethree sub-pixels may form a RGB/B&W pixel, and a plurality of theseRGB/B&W pixels may be disposed in a display.

One of said common light transmission control elements may be disposedabove said first, second and third light reflective areas in order tocause light-blocking with respect to said light reflective areas whenthe device is switched in the reflective blocking state.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saiddevice comprises a liquid crystal element, and each of said at least onecommon pixel light transmission control element is a pixel electrodeconfigured to control an associated region of said liquid crystalelement, and said common light transmission control element is a lighttransmissive electrode.

Thus, said at least one common pixel light transmission control elementand the at least one common light transmission control element mayrepresent light transmissive electrodes configured to control associatedregions of the liquid crystal element. Said liquid crystal element maybe configured to be used in a LCD display.

For instance, said at least one common pixel light transmission controlelement may be deposited beneath said liquid crystal element and said atleast one common light transmission control element may be depositedabove said liquid crystal and above the associated light reflectiveareas. Furthermore, for instance, this arrangement may also be reversed,i.e. with common pixel light transmission control elements depositedabove the liquid crystal element and with said at least one common lighttransmission control element deposited beneath the liquid crystalelement.

A further light transmissive electrode may be disposed above the liquidcrystal element and above regions of the light transmissive areas, sothat this further light transmissive electrode may act as a counterpartto the common pixel light transmission control elements in the regionsof the light transmissive areas.

Furthermore, each of said common pixel light transmission controlelectrode may be associated with an electrical switching element inorder to electrical switch the associated electrode. For instance, thiselectrical switching element maybe a thin film transistor disposed closeto the associated electrode.

For instance, said light transmissive electrodes may be transparentindium tin oxid (ITO) electrodes.

Furthermore, for instance, in this reflective blocking state the atleast one common light transmission control element electrode may forinstance be provided with a voltage that controls the regions of theliquid crystal element disposed over the light reflective areas to blocklight independently from control signals provided to the common pixellight transmission control elements.

Thus, the reflective blocking state can be activated and deactivated bymeans of a voltage supplied to a signal line connected to the at leastone common light transmission control element. Accordingly, thereflective blocking state can be controlled in an easy way by means ofthe at least one common light transmission control element.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, said atleast one light transmissive area are at least two light transmissiveareas, and said at least two light reflective areas and said at leasttwo light transmissive areas are arranged in form of a matrix in orderto form a plurality of pixels, and said common light transmissioncontrol element is rake-shaped and deposited above said at least two ofsaid at least two light reflective areas.

For instance, said at least two light reflective transmissive areas mayrepresent a plurality of light reflective areas arranged in at least onecolumn, and said at least two light reflective areas may represent aplurality of light reflective areas arranged in at least one column,wherein said light reflective and light transmissive columns may bedisposed in an alternating form, e.g. in order to form columns of saidRGB/B&W pixels mentioned above.

The rake-shaped common light transmission control element may bedeposited above the liquid crystal cell element and is configured toblock light transmission of regions of the liquid crystal associatedwith the at least one column of light reflective areas when the deviceis switched into the reflective blocking state. When the device is notin the reflective blocking state, then the rake-shaped common lighttransmission control element may act as counterpart electrode withrespect to the common pixel light transmission control elements in orderto control the light transmittance of regions of the liquid crystal cellelement associated with the light reflective areas, e.g. due to controlsignals controlling the plurality of common pixel light transmissioncontrol elements.

This rake-shaped arrangement of the common light transmission controlelement allows an efficient design of a display since only one lighttransmission control element has be controlled in order to switch thedevice into the reflective blocking state.

For instance, said rake-shaped common light transmission control elementmay be a light transmissive ITO electrode.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saiddevice comprises a further rake-shaped light transmission controlelement deposited above at least two of said at least two lighttransmissive areas, wherein the common light transmission controlelement and the further rake-shaped light transmission control elementfit into each other.

The further rake-shaped common light transmission control element mayact as counterpart electrode with respect to the common pixel lighttransmission control elements in order to control the lighttransmittance of regions of the liquid crystal cell element associatedwith the light transmissive areas, e.g. due to control signalscontrolling the plurality of common pixel light transmission controlelements.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at leastone of said at least one light transmission control element represents asub-pixel light transmission control element associated with exactly oneof said at least one light reflective area.

Each of said at least one sub-pixel light transmission control elementcan be used either to control the light transmission to the at least onelight reflective area according to a sub-pixel control signal, or eachof said at least one sub-pixel light transmission control element can beswitched into a state causing light-blocking when the device is switchedinto the reflective blocking state.

Thus, when said reflective blocking state is inactive, then thesub-pixels associated with at least one of said at least one lightreflective area separate can be controlled individually by means of therespective sub-pixel light transmission control elements.

For instance, in case that the device is configured to represent a partof a LCD display, each of at least one sub-pixel light transmissioncontrol element may represent a light transmissive electrode configuredto control an associated region of a liquid crystal element.Furthermore, each of said light transmissive electrodes may beassociated with an electrical switching element in order to electricalswitch the associated electrode. For instance, this electrical switchingelement may be a thin film transistor disposed close to the associatedelectrode.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thedevice comprises at least one further sub-pixel light transmissioncontrol element, and each of said at least one further sub-pixel lighttransmission control element is associated with exactly one of said atleast one light transmissive area.

Thus, the sub-pixels associated with said at least one further sub-pixellight transmission control element can be controlled individually bymeans of the respective sub-pixel light transmission control element.

For instance, in case that the device is configured to represent a partof a LCD display, each of said at least one further sub-pixel lighttransmission control element may represent a light transmissiveelectrode configured to control an associated region of a liquid crystalelement. Furthermore, each of said light transmissive electrodes may beassociated with an electrical switching element in order to electricalswitch the associated electrode. For instance, this electrical switchingelement may be a thin film transistor disposed close to the associatedelectrode.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thedevice comprises a common control signal line connected to each of atleast one sub-pixel light transmission control element in order tocontrol said at least one sub-pixel light transmission control elementcausing light-blocking when the device is switched into said reflectiveblocking state.

In this reflective blocking state the single control line overwritesother sub-pixel information at the respective at least one sub-pixelcontrol element and forces this at least one sub-pixel control elementto block light. For instance, each of said at least one sub-pixelcontrol element may comprise a separate switching element which isconfigured to set the respective sub-pixel light transmission controlelement in the reflective blocking state in response to a control signalon the single control line. Said separate switching element isconfigured to overwrite any other control signal associated with therespective sub-pixel light transmission control element when said deviceis switched into said reflective blocking state. Thus, a reliableswitching operation into the reflective blocking state can be achieved.

For instance, in case that the device is configured to represent a partof a LCD display, said at least one separate switching element mayrepresent a separate thin film transistor associated with the respectivesub-pixel light transmission control element, which may represent alight transmissive electrode.

Thus, the device can be set into the reflective blocking state in aneasy way by means of the single control line.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saiddevice comprises a liquid crystal element disposed above said at leastone light transmissive area and said at least one light reflective area,and said control elements represent light transmissive electrodesconfigured to control regions of said liquid crystal element.

For instance, said device may represent a liquid crystal display.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a firstof said at least one light transmissive area is associated with a redsub-pixel, and wherein a second of said at least one light transmissivearea is associated with a green sub-pixel, and wherein a third of saidat least one light transmissive area is associated with a bluesub-pixel.

For instance, said first, second and third light transmissive areas maybe arranged adjacent to each other in order to from a group. E.g. theselight transmissive areas may be arranged in form of a column.Furthermore, for instance, each of said three light transmissive areasmay be associated with a separate light reflective area of said at leastone light reflective area, or, alternatively, said group of lighttransmissive area may be associated with a common light reflective areaof said at least one light reflective area.

Thus, said group of light transmissive areas and said one ore threeassociated light reflective areas may form a red/green/blueblack/white-pixel, wherein in said reflective blocking state theblack/white-subpixel does not reflect light due to the light blockingcaused by said at least one light transmission control elementassociated with said at least one light reflective area. Thus, washingout the colors when backlight is provided to the group of lighttransmissive areas is avoided since not black/white reflected lightinterferes from the associated one or three light reflective areas.

A plurality of these red/green/blue black/white-pixels may be arrangedin order to form a display, e.g. a LCD display.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from andelucidated with reference to the detailed description presentedhereinafter. The features of the present invention and of its exemplaryembodiments as presented above are understood to be disclosed also inall possible combinations with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the figures show:

FIG. 1 a: A schematic cross-sectional side-view of a primary part of aliquid crystal display,

FIG. 1 b: a schematic cross-sectional top-view of a primary part of aliquid crystal display,

FIG. 2 a: a schematic cross-sectional side-view of a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention illustrating the reflective blockingstate;

FIG. 2 b: a schematic cross-sectional side-view of the first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention without reflective blocking state;

FIG. 2 c: a schematic top-view of the first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 a: a schematic cross-sectional top-view of a second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 b: a schematic cross-sectional side-view of the second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 a: a schematic cross-sectional top-view of a third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 b: a schematic cross-sectional side-view of the third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 c: a schematic cross-sectional top-view of a fourth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 a: a schematic cross-sectional top-view of a fifth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 b: a schematic cross-sectional side-view of the fifth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6: a schematic flow-chart according to an exemplary embodiment of amethod according to the present invention;

FIG. 7: a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the present invention,exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described.

FIGS. 2 a to 2 c depict schematic diagrams in different views of a firstexemplary embodiment of a device 200 according to the present invention,wherein FIGS. 2 a and 2 b depict a side views of the device 200indifferent states and FIG. 2 c depicts a top view of the device 200depicted in FIG. 2 a.

This device 200 may be part of a display, for instance a liquid crystaldisplay or any other suited display.

The device 200 comprises at least one light transmissive area 210 and atleast one light reflective area 220, wherein the at least one lighttransmissive area 210 is configured to let pass light through, asindicated in FIG. 2 a. For instance, a backlight from a switchable lightsource 250 may be coupled into this at least one light transmissive area210, e.g. similar as described in context of the FIGS. 1 a and 1 bregarding the light transmissive ares 110,110′,110″. In case the device200 comprises a plurality of light transmissive areas 210, then adjacentlight transmissive areas of this plurality of light transmissive areas210 may share a common light transmissive layer. Furthermore, in casethe device 200 comprises a plurality of light reflective areas 220, thenadjacent light reflective areas of this plurality of light reflectiveareas 220 may share a common light reflective layer.

The at least one light reflective area 220 is configured to reflectlight, e.g. ambient light from the environment. For instance, this atleast light reflective area 220 may comprise a light reflective layer(not depicted). For instance, this at least one light reflective area220 may correspond to the light reflection areas 120,120′,120″ depictedin FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, but they also may represent other reflectiveregions.

For instance, each of said at least one light transmissive area 210 andeach of said at least one light reflective area 220 may be associatedwith a pixel of a display. Furthermore, each of said at least one lightreflective area 220 may be associated with a black and white pixel, andeach of said at least one light transmissive area 210 may be associatedwith a color pixel, e.g. a green pixel, a red pixel or a blue pixel.

For instance, respective color filters may be deposited above or undersaid at least one light transmissive area 210.

The device 200 further comprises at least one light transmission controlelement 230 associated with said at least one light reflective area 220.This at least one light transmission control element 230 may bedeposited above said at least one light reflective area 220, as depictedin FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, or it may be integrated into said at least onelight reflective area 220. The at least one light transmission controlelement 230 is configured to control light transmission to the at leastone light reflective area 220, and it can be switched into a statecausing light-blocking.

For instance, said at least one light transmission control element 230may represent any kind of a light valve configured to block or let passlight, or said at least one light transmission control element 230 mayrepresent a kind of actuator for controlling a further light valveelement (not depicted in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b) disposed above said at leastone light reflective area 230.

For instance, in case said device 200 is part of a liquid crystaldisplay, then said at least one light transmission control element 230may be at least one light transmissive electrode configured to control aliquid crystal element, and each of said at least one light transmissioncontrol element 230 may be associated with an electrical switchingelement in order to electrical switch the associated electrode. Forinstance, this electrical switching element may be a thin filmtransistor disposed close to the associated electrode.

The device 200 is configured to be switched into a reflective blockingstate when said at least one light transmissive area 210 is providedwith backlight, e.g. from the switchable light source 250. In thisreflective blocking state the at least one light transmission controlelement 230 is switched into said state for causing light-blocking, asexemplarily depicted in FIG. 2 a.

In this reflective blocking state it can be avoided that light reflectedfrom said at least one reflective area 220 interferes with lightgenerated by the backlight and transmitted through the at least onelight transmissive area 210, since said at least one light reflectivearea 220 does not receive light due to the blocking state of said atleast one light transmission control element 230.

For instance, in case said at least one light transmissive area 210 isassociated with at least one color pixel, then this reflective blockingstate is capable to avoid that colors generated by light transmittedthrough the at least one light transmissive area 210 is washed out byreflected light from said at least one light reflective area 220.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary method of the present invention in order tocontrol a device according to the present invention, which is configuredto be provided with backlight in order to illuminate the at least onelight transmissive area, e.g. the at least one light transmissive area210 of device 200 depicted in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c. For instance, thismethod may be performed by a separate control unit 260 which isconfigured to control said at least one light transmission controlelement 230.

At first, for instance, it is assumed that the backlight is switched off(step 605). Then it is determined whether the reflective blocking stateis to be entered (610). For instance, it may be determined whether alight source 250 providing backlight to the at least one lighttransmissive area 210 is switched on, and in case it is determined thatthe reflective blocking state is to be entered (step 610), e.g. in caseit is determined that the backlight is switched on, then the reflectiveblocking state is entered (step 630). For instance, with respect to thedevice 200 depicted in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c, due to this reflectiveblocking state the at least one light transmission control element 230is switched into a state for blocking light. This reflective blockingstate is exemplarily depicted in FIG. 2 a.

Then it is determined whether the reflective blocking state is to bedeactivated (step 640), e.g. by determining whether the backlight isswitched off. In case it is determined that the reflective blocking isto be deactivated (step 650), then the reflective blocking state isswitched inactive (step 660), otherwise the method may jump back in theflow in order to once again determining whether the reflective blockingstate is to be deactivated (step 640). For instance, with respect to thedevice 200 depicted in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c, the reflective blockingstate may be deactivated by switching the at least one lighttransmission control element 230 into a state that allows to let passlight through this at least one light transmission control element 230.

Furthermore, for instance, in this inactive state each of said at leastone light transmission control element 230 may be controllable by asignal in order to display a respective pixel of an image. For instance,the device 200 may comprise at least one further light transmissioncontrol element (not depicted in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c) associated withsaid at least one light transmissive region 210, wherein each of said atleast one further light transmission control element may be controllablein order to display a respective pixel of an image in said reflectiveblocking state.

For instance, the device 200 may be used in any mobile phone,handheld-device or any apparatus comprising a display configured to bedriven in a first mode with activated backlight and in a second modeusing ambient light from the environment, wherein for instance aplurality of the devices 200 may be arranged in said display. Thus, sucha display comprising the device 200 according to the invention can beswitched into the aforementioned reflective blocking state in order toavoid that light reflected from the at least one light reflective area220 washes out the colors generated by the backlight and the at leastone light transmissive area 210 of the display. This may enable anincreased image quality when the display is driven in the backlightmode. Accordingly, the color image quality can be increased, inparticular in case of intensive light in the environment.

In the sequel, further exemplary embodiments of devices according to thepresent invention are presented, wherein these embodiments are basicallybased on the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c.Thus, the aforementioned explanations and advantages with respect to thedevice 200 depicted in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c and the method depicted inFIG. 6 also hold for the succeeding exemplary embodiments, in particularthe explanations and advantages concerning the at least one lightreflective area 220, the at least one light transmissive area 210 andthe at least one light transmission control element 230.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b depict a second exemplary embodiment of a device 300according to the present invention. FIG. 3 b depicts a side-view of thedevice 300 and FIG. 3 a depicts a cross-sectional view of the device 300along line 305 in FIG. 3 a.

This device 300 comprises a first light transmissive area 310, a secondlight transmissive area 313 and a third light transmissive area 316configured to be coupled to a light source 350 in order to be providedwith backlight. For instance, the first light transmissive area 310 maybe associated with a green sub-pixel, e.g. by means of green colorfilter or by means of a green backlight, the second light transmissivearea 313 maybe associated with a blue sub-pixel, e.g. by means of bluecolor filter or by means of blue backlight, and the third lighttransmissive area 316 may be associated with a red pixel, e.g. by meansof red color filter or by means of red backlight.

Each of said light transmissive areas 310,313,316 is associated with aseparate sub-pixel control element 311,314,317, and each of saidsub-pixel control element 311,314,317 is individually controllable, e.g.by means of control unit 360, as depicted in FIG. 3 b. For instance, incase that device 300 is part of a LCD display, said sub-pixel controlelements 311,314,317 may represent light transmissive electrodes311,314,317 configured to control associated regions of a liquid crystalelement 370, as exemplarily depicted in FIG. 3 b. Furthermore, each ofsaid light transmissive electrodes 311,314,317 may be associated with anelectrical switching element in order to electrical switch theassociated electrode. For instance, this electrical switching elementmay be a thin film transistor disposed close to the associatedelectrode.

The device 300 further comprises a light reflective area 320representing a black and white (B&W) reflective area. This lightreflective area 320 is associated with a light transmission controlelement 330 which is disposed above the light reflective area 320 andconfigured to block light in case the device is switched into thereflective blocking state as aforementioned with respect to device 200depicted in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c. This light transmission controlelement 320 is further individually controllable in case the reflectiveblocking state is not entered.

Thus, for instance, when the light transmissive areas 310,313,316 arenot provided with backlight, then the light transmission control element330 associated with the light reflective area 320 can be used as asub-pixel control element 330 in order to correlate the lighttransmittance according to a control signal. For instance, in case thatdevice 300 is part of a LCD display, said light transmission controlelement 320 may represent a light transmissive electrode 320 configuredto control an associated region of a liquid crystal element 370, asexemplarily depicted in FIG. 3 b. In this optional LCD-case at least onefurther ITO electrode is placed above the liquid crystal element 370(not depicted in FIG. 3 b). Furthermore, said light transmissiveelectrode 320 may be associated with an electrical switching element inorder to electrical switch the associated electrode. For instance, thiselectrical switching element may be a thin film transistor disposedclose to the associated electrode.

Thus, the device 300 may represent a pixel in Red-Green-Blue-White(RGBW) layout consisting of four subpixels. The device 300 can be drivenin a first mode with activated backlight in order to illuminate thelight transmissive areas 310,313,316 and to provide colored sub-pixelsindividually controllable by means of the sub-pixel control elements311,314,317, respectively. In this first mode the device is switched inthe reflective blocking state in order to avoid that light reflectedfrom the light reflective area 320 interferes with the color light fromthe sub-pixels 310,313,316 and washes out the colors.

In a second mode, when backlight is switched off, then the lighttransmission control element 320 can be used to control the B&Wsub-pixel associated with the light reflective area 320.

For instance, a display may comprise a plurality of devices 300, e.g.arranged in form of matrix or in another arrangement well-suited for apixel-display, wherein each of the plurality of devices 300 represents aRGBW-pixel consisting of three color sub-pixels and one black/whitesub-pixel. Thus, this display can be driven in the first mode in orderto provide color images controlled by the sub-pixel control elements311,314,317 of the devices 300 with simultaneously light-blocked lightreflective areas 320 of the devices 300. In the second mode, saiddisplay can provide B&W images controlled by the light transmissiveelements 320 associated with the light reflective areas 320 of thedevice 300.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b depict a third exemplary embodiment of a device 400according to the present invention. FIG. 4 a depicts a top view of thedevice 400 and FIG. 4 b depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplaryembodiment of the device 400 along line 405 in FIG. 4 a.

The device 400 comprises a first light reflective area 420, a secondlight reflective area 423 and a third light reflective area 426, and itcomprises a first light transmissive area 410, a second lighttransmissive area 413 and a third light transmissive area 416, asdepicted in FIG. 4 a. These light transmissive areas 410,413,416 areconfigured to be coupled to a switchable backlight as aforementioned.

For instance, the first, second and third light reflective areas420,423,426 may share a common light reflective layer, but they also maybe associated with an own light reflective layer, respectively. Further,for instance, the first, second and third light transmissive areas410,413,416 may share a common light transmissive layer, but they alsomay be associated with an own light transmissive layer, respectively.

The first light reflective area 420 and the first light transmissivearea 410 are disposed adjacent to each other and are associated with onecommon pixel control element 440 disposed above the areas 420,410, ascan be seen in the cross-sectional view depicted in FIG. 4 a and in FIG.4 b. Thus, the first light reflective area 420 and the first lighttransmissive area 410 are associated with a first common sub-pixelcontrollable by means of the common pixel control element 440.

In a similar way, the second light reflective area 423 and the secondlight transmissive area 413 are associated with a second commonsub-pixel controllable by means of a common pixel control element 443,and the third light reflective area 426 and the third light transmissivearea 416 are associated with a third common sub-pixel controllable bymeans of a common pixel control element 446.

Furthermore, for instance, color filters (not depicted in FIGS. 4 a and4 b) may be disposed above or beneath the light transmissive areas410,413,416, so that each sub-pixel is divided into a color sub-partassociated with the respective light transmissive area 410,413,416 andinto a B&W sub-part associated with the respective light reflective area420,423,426. Alternatively, for instance, the color filters may bereplaced by respective colored backlights provided to the lighttransmissive areas 410,413,416.

For instance, the first transmissive area 410 may be associated with ared colored sub-part of the first sub-pixel, the second transmissivearea 413 may be associated with a green colored sub-part of the secondsub-pixel, and the third transmissive area 416 may be associated with ablue colored sub-part of the third sub-pixel.

Furthermore, the device 400 comprises one common light transmissioncontrol element 430 associated with said first, second and third lightreflective areas 420,423,426. This common light transmission controlelement 430 is disposed above said first, second and third lightreflective areas 420,423,426, as depicted in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, andallows causing light blocking with respect to said light reflectiveareas 420,423,426. Thus, by controlling this common light transmissioncontrol element 430 the device 400 can be switched in said reflectiveblocking state.

Thus, the device 400 may represent an element containing threesub-pixels, wherein in the reflective blocking state this elementcomprises three controllable color sub-pixels associated with the lighttransmissive areas 410,413,416, and in deactivated reflecting blockingstate the element comprises three controllable B&W sub-pixels associatedwith the light reflective areas 420,423,426.

The explanations and advantages mentioned above with respect to thelight transmission element 220 in the first exemplary embodiment alsoholds for the common light transmission control element 430 of thisthird exemplary embodiment.

Without any restrictions and only for illustration, it is exemplarilyassumed in the sequel that the device 400 represents a part of a LCDdisplay.

For this assumption the common pixel control elements 440,443,446 andthe common light transmission control element 430 represent lighttransmissive electrodes configured to control associated regions of aliquid crystal element 470, as exemplarily depicted in FIG. 4 a. Afurther light transmissive electrode 435 may be disposed above theliquid crystal element 470 associated with regions of the lighttransmissive areas 410,413,416, so that this further light transmissiveelectrode 435 acts as a counterpart to the common pixel control elements440,443,446 in the regions of the light transmissive areas 410,413,416.For instance, said light transmissive electrodes may be transparentindium tin oxid (ITO) electrodes. In FIG. 4 a the common pixel controlelements 440,443,446 are deposited beneath the liquid crystal element470 and the light transmission control elements 430,435 are depositedabove the liquid crystal element 470, but this arrangement may also bereversed, i.e. with common pixel control elements 440,443,446 depositedabove and light transmission control elements 430,435 deposited belowthe liquid crystal element 470.

For example, the common light transmission control element 430 may beconnected to a single signal line, and via this signal line the commonlight transmission control element 430 can be controlled to switch thedevice 400 into the reflective blocking state by means of a singlecontrol signal. For instance, in this reflective blocking state thecommon ITO electrode 430 may for instance be provided with a voltagethat controls the regions of the liquid crystal element 470 disposedover the light reflective areas 420,423,426 to block light independentlyfrom control signals provided to the common pixel control elements440,443,446.

Thus, for instance, the reflective blocking state can be activated anddeactivated by means of a voltage supplied to the signal line connectedto the common light transmission control element 430. Accordingly, thereflective blocking state can be controlled in an easy way by means ofthe common light transmission control element 430.

FIG. 4 c depicts a fourth exemplary embodiment of a device 480 accordingto the present invention, wherein this device 480 comprises a pluralityof devices 400 of the third embodiment arranged in form a matrix. Thus,the aforementioned explanations and advantages with respect to thedevice 400 also hold for this fourth exemplary embodiment.

For instance, adjacent light reflective areas of the plurality of lightreflective areas 420,423,426 of the device 400 may share a common lightreflective layer, and adjacent light transmissive areas of the pluralityof light transmissive areas 410,413,416 may share a common lighttransmissive layer.

The common light transmission control element 430 of the devices 400 isformed as a single rake-shaped common light transmission control element430 deposited above the plurality of all light reflective areas420,423,426 of said devices 400, as depicted in FIG. 4 c. Thus, by meansof this single rake-shaped light control element 430 the device 480 canbe switched into the reflective blocking state, since each of thedevices 400 can be controlled by this single rake-shaped light controlelement 430 as explained with respect to the third exemplary embodiment.

Furthermore, without any restrictions and only for illustration, it isexemplarily assumed in the sequel that the device 480 represents an LCDdisplay and the devices 400 represent LCD display parts asaforementioned. For this assumption the rake-shaped light transmissioncontrol element 430 represents a light transmissive electrode, e.g. anITO electrode. Furthermore, for this assumption the optional furtherlight transmissive electrode 435 of the devices 400 may be formed as afurther single rake-shaped common light transmissive electrode 435deposited above the plurality of all light reflective 410,413,426,wherein this further single rake-shaped common light transmissiveelectrode 435 and the rake-shaped light transmission control element fitinto each other with being connected to each other.

This rake-shaped arrangement of the light transmissive electrodes 430and 435 allows an efficient design of a display 498 configured to beswitched into said reflective blocking state.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b depict a fifth exemplary embodiment of a device 500according to the present invention. FIG. 5 a depicts a top view of thedevice 500 and FIG. 5 b depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplaryembodiment of the device 500 along line 505 in FIG. 4 a.

Similar to the device 400 of the third exemplary embodiment, the device500 comprises a first light reflective area 520, a second lightreflective area 523 and a third light reflective area 526, and itcomprises a first light tranmsissive area 510, a second lighttransmissive area 513 and a third light transmissive area 516, asdepicted in FIG. 5 a. These light transmissive areas 510,513,516 areconfigured to be coupled to a switchable backlight as aforementioned.

For instance, the first, second and third light reflective areas520,523,526 may share a common light reflective layer, but they also maybe associated with an own light reflective layer, respectively. Further,for instance, the first, second and third light transmissive areas510,513,516 may share a common light transmissive layer, but they alsomay be associated with an own light transmissive layer, respectively.

In contrast to the third embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, thedevice 500 according to this fifth exemplary embodiment comprises aseparate sub-pixel control element 511,514,517,521,524,527, i.e. aseparate light transmission control element 511,514,517,521,524,527, foreach of the light reflective areas 520,523,526 and each of the lighttransmissive areas 510,513,516.

Thus, by means of these separate light transmission control element511,514,517,521,524,527 both the color sub-pixel areas associated withthe light transmissive areas 510,513,516 and the B&W sub-pixel areasassociated with the light reflective areas 520,523,526 can be controlledindependently from each other.

Furthermore, the device 500 comprises a single control line 501configured to control the light transmission control elements521,524,527 associated with the light reflective areas 520,523,526. Viathis single control line 501 the connected light transmission controlelements 521,524,527 can be controlled to switch the device 500 into thereflective blocking state by means of a single control signal, i.e. thelight transmission control elements 521,524,527 can be switched to causelight blocking. In this reflective blocking state the single controlline 501 overwrites other sub-pixel information at the respective lighttransmission control elements 521,524,527 and forces these lighttransmission control elements 521,524,527 to block light. For instance,each of said light transmission control elements 521,524,527 maycomprise a separate switching element 522,525,528 which is configured toset the respective light transmission control elements 521,524,527 inthe reflective blocking state in response to a control signal on thesingle control line 501.

Thus, the device 500 can be set into the reflective blocking state in aneasy way by means of the single control line 501.

For instance, if it assumed that device 500 is part of a LCD display,each of said light transmission control elements 511,514,517,521,524,527may represent a light transmissive electrode 511,514,517,521,524,527configured to control an associated region of a liquid crystal element570, as exemplarily depicted in FIG. 5 b. Furthermore, for instance,each of said light transmissive electrodes 511,514,517,521,524,527 maybeassociated with an electrical switching element (not depicted in FIGS. 5a and 5 b) in order to electrical switch the associated electrode, e.g.in response to a control signal providing sub-pixel information for theassociated sub-pixel. For instance, this electrical switching elementmay be a thin film transistor disposed close to the associatedelectrode.

Furthermore, for this assumption that device 500 is part of a LCDdisplay, each of said separate switching element 522,525,528 connectedto the single control line 501 may represent a thin film transistor,wherein each of these thin film transistors is capable to set therespective light transmission control elements 521,524,527 in thereflective blocking state in response to a control signal on the singlecontrol line 501. For instance, in this reflective blocking state therespective light transmissive electrode 521,524, 527 may for instance beprovided with a voltage that controls the regions of the liquid crystalelement 570 disposed over the respective light reflective area520,523,526 to block light independently from other control signalsprovided to the respective light transmissive electrode 521,524,527.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a system of the presentinvention, wherein this system comprises a display 700, wherein thisdisplay comprises at least one device according of the presentinvention. E.g., this device may be any out of the preceding fiveexemplary embodiments of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 1 a-5b, or any variation thereof. This display 700 comprises a control lineor control bus 745, wherein via this control line or control bus 745each of said at least one device can be switched into the reflectiveblocking state.

Furthermore, at least one light source 150 is coupled to said display inorder to illuminate the at least one light transmissive ares of said atleast one device.

A control unit 710 is connected to the control line or control bus 745and to the at least one light source 150 in order to activate anddeactivate the reflective blocking state in response to a switchingstate of the at least one light source. For instance, the control unitis configured to carry out the method depicted in FIG. 6 and mentionedabove.

For instance, the system depicted in FIG. 7 may be implemented in amobile phone, a handheld device or any other suited apparatus.

Furthermore, it is readily clear for a skilled person that the logicalblocks in the schematic block diagrams as well as the flowchart andalgorithm steps presented in the above description may at leastpartially be implemented in electronic hardware and/or computersoftware, wherein it depends on the functionality of the logical block,flowchart step and algorithm step and on design constraints imposed onthe respective devices to which degree a logical block, a flowchart stepor algorithm step is implemented in hardware or software. The presentedlogical blocks, flowchart steps and algorithm steps may for instance beimplemented in one or more digital signal processors, applicationspecific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or otherprogrammable devices. The computer software may be stored in a varietyof storage media of electric, magnetic, electro-magnetic or optic typeand may be read and executed by a processor, such as for instance amicroprocessor. To this end, the processor and the storage medium may becoupled to interchange information, or the storage medium may beincluded in the processor.

1. A device, comprising: at least one light transmissive area configuredto be coupled to a light source in order to be provided with backlight;at least one light reflective area, at least one light transmissioncontrol element associated with said at least one light reflective area,wherein said device is configured to be switched into a reflectiveblocking state when said at least one light transmissive area isprovided with backlight, and wherein in said reflective blocking statesaid at least one light transmission control element causeslight-blocking.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said atleast one light reflective area are at least two light reflective areas,and wherein at least two of said at least two light reflective areas areassociated with one common light transmission control element of said atleast one light transmission control element.
 3. The device according toclaim 2, wherein each of at least one of said at least two of said atleast two light reflective areas is deposited adjacent to one of said atleast one light transmissive area, wherein said adjacent lightreflective area and light transmissive area are associated with onecommon pixel having a common pixel light transmission control element.4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said device comprises aliquid crystal element, and each of said at least one common pixel lighttransmission control element is a pixel electrode configured to controlan associated region of said liquid crystal element, and wherein saidcommon light transmission control element is a light transmissiveelectrode.
 5. The device according to claim 3, wherein said at least onelight transmissive area are at least two light transmissive areas, andwherein said at least two light reflective areas and said at least twolight transmissive areas are arranged in form of a matrix in order toform a plurality of pixels, and wherein said common light transmissioncontrol element is rake-shaped and deposited above said at least two ofsaid at least two light reflective areas.
 6. The device according toclaim 5, wherein said device comprises a further rake-shaped lighttransmission control element deposited above at least two of said atleast two light transmissive areas, wherein the common lighttransmission control element and the further rake-shaped lighttransmission control element fit into each other.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one lighttransmission control element represents a sub-pixel light transmissioncontrol element associated with exactly one of said at least one lightreflective area.
 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the devicecomprises at least one further sub-pixel light transmission controlelement, and wherein each of said at least one further sub-pixel lighttransmission control element is associated with exactly one of said atleast one light transmissive area.
 9. The device according to claim 7,comprising a common control signal line connected to each of said atleast one said sub-pixel light transmission control element in order tocontrol said at least one sub-pixel light transmission control elementcausing light-blocking when the device is switched into said reflectiveblocking state.
 10. The device according to claim 7, wherein said devicecomprises a liquid crystal element disposed above said at least onelight transmissive area and said at least one light reflective area, andwherein said control elements represent light transmissive electrodesconfigured to control regions of said liquid crystal element.
 11. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein a first of said at least one lighttransmissive area is associated with a red sub-pixel, and wherein asecond of said at least one light transmissive area is associated with agreen sub-pixel, and wherein a third of said at least one lighttransmissive area is associated with a blue sub-pixel.
 12. A method,comprising: determining whether a reflective blocking state of a deviceis to be entered, wherein said device comprises at least one lighttransmissive area configured to be coupled to a light source in order tobe provided with backlight; at least one light reflective area, at leastone light transmission control element associated with said at least onelight reflective area, and wherein in said reflective blocking statesaid at least one light transmission control element causeslight-blocking, and in case it is determined that said reflectiveblocking state is to be entered, switching said reflective blockingstate active.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein saiddetermining whether said reflective blocking state of said device is tobe entered comprises: determining whether backlight is switched on, andin case it is determined that backlight is switched on, then it isdetermined to enter said reflective blocking state.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 12, further comprising: in case said blocking stateis active, then determining whether backlight is switched off, and incase it is determined that backlight is switched off, switching thereflective blocking state off.
 15. The method according to claim 12,wherein said at least one light reflective area are at least two lightreflective areas, and wherein at least two of said at least two lightreflective areas are associated with one common light transmissioncontrol element of said at least one light transmission control element.16. The method according to claim 15, wherein each of at least one ofsaid at least two of said at least two light reflective areas isdeposited adjacent to one of said at least one light transmissive area,wherein said adjacent light reflective area and light transmissive areaare associated with one common pixel having a common pixel lighttransmission control element.
 17. The method according to claim 16,wherein said device comprises a liquid crystal element, and each of atleast one common pixel light transmission control element is a pixelelectrode configured to control an associated region of said liquidcrystal element, and wherein said common light transmission controlelement is a light transmissive electrode.
 18. The method according toclaim 16, wherein said at least one light transmissive area are at leasttwo light transmissive areas, and wherein said at least two lightreflective areas and said at least two light transmissive areas arearranged in form of a matrix in order to form a plurality of pixels, andwherein said common light transmission control element is rake-shapedand deposited above said at least two of said at least two lightreflective areas.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein saiddevice comprises a further rake-shaped light transmission controlelement deposited above at least two of said at least two lighttransmissive areas, wherein the common light transmission controlelement and the further rake-shaped light transmission control elementfit into each other.
 20. The method according to claim 12, wherein atleast one of said at least one light transmission control elementrepresents a sub-pixel light transmission control element associatedwith exactly one of said at least one light reflective area.
 21. Themethod according to claim 20, wherein the device comprises at least onefurther sub-pixel light transmission control element, and wherein eachof said at least one further sub-pixel light transmission controlelement is associated with exactly one of said at least one lighttransmissive area.
 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein thedevice comprises a common control signal line connected to each of saidat least one said sub-pixel light transmission control element in orderto control said at least one sub-pixel light transmission controlelement causing light-blocking when the device is switched into saidreflective blocking state.
 23. The method according to claim 20, whereinsaid device comprises a liquid crystal element disposed above said atleast one light transmissive area and said at least one light reflectivearea, and wherein said control elements represent light transmissiveelectrodes configured to control regions of said liquid crystal element.24. The method according to claim 12, wherein a first of said at leastone light transmissive area is associated with a red sub-pixel, andwherein a second of said at least one light transmissive area isassociated with a green sub-pixel, and wherein a third of said at leastone light transmissive area is associated with a blue sub-pixel.
 25. Acomputer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, thecomputer program comprising instructions operable to cause a processorto: determine whether a reflective blocking state of a device is to beentered, wherein said device comprises at least one light transmissivearea configured to be coupled to a light source in order to be providedwith backlight; at least one light reflective area, at least one lighttransmission control element associated with said at least one lightreflective area, and wherein in said reflective blocking state said atleast one light transmission control element causes light-blocking, andin case it is determined that said reflective blocking state is to beentered, switching said reflective blocking state active.
 26. A computerprogram, comprising instructions operable to cause a processor to:determine whether a reflective blocking state of a device is to beentered, wherein said device comprises at least one light transmissivearea configured to be coupled to a light source in order to be providedwith backlight; at least one light reflective area, at least one lighttransmission control element associated with said at least one lightreflective area, and wherein in said reflective blocking state said atleast one light transmission control element causes light-blocking, andin case it is determined that said reflective blocking state is to beentered, switching said reflective blocking state active.
 27. A system,comprising: at least one of the devices according to claim 1; at leastone light source, wherein said at least one light source is configuredto provide backlight to at least one light transmissive area of said atleast one device, and wherein said at least one light source isconfigured to be switched on or off; and a control unit connected withsaid at least one device, wherein said control unit is configured to:determine whether a reflective blocking state of said at least onedevice is to be entered, and, in case it is determined that saidreflective blocking state is to be entered, switch said reflectiveblocking state active.
 28. The system according to claim 27, whereinsaid determining whether said blocking state of said device is to beentered comprises: determining whether backlight is switched on, and incase it is determined that backlight is switched on, then it isdetermined to enter said reflective blocking state.
 29. The systemaccording to claim 28, wherein said control unit is further configuredto: in case said blocking state is active, determining whether backlightis switched off, and in case it is determined that backlight is switchedoff, switching the reflective blocking state off.